Metal working apparatus



Feb. 26, 1963- E. J. SVENSON METAL WORKING APPARATUS 18 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 2'7, 1959 Feb. 26, 1963 E. J. SVENSON 3,078,742

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Feb. 26,1963 E. J. SVENSON METAL WORKING APPARATUS 18 Sheets-Sheet 13Filed Feb. 27, 1959 Feb. 26, 1963 E. J. SVENSON METAL WORKING APPARATUS18 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Feb. 27. 1959 NEWWMQ v INVENTOR as; J. wewwz BYFeb. 26, 1963 Filed Feb. 27. 1959 E. J. SVENSON METAL WORKING APPARATUS18 Sheets-Sheet 16 Feb. 26, 1963 Filed Feb. 27, 1959 E'. J. SVENSONMETAL WORKING APPARATUS 18 She ets-Sheet 17 Feb. 26, 1963 E. J. svENspNMETAL WORKING APPARATUS 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 Filed Feb. 27, 1959 INVENTOR.fined Jfflerwam United States Patent 3,078,742. METAL WORKING APPARATUSErnest J. Svenson, Rockford, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, ofone=half to W. F. and John Barnes Cornpany, Rockford, 111., acorporation of Illinois, and onehalf to Odin Corporation, Rockford,111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 796,097 23Claims. (Cl. 77-335) The present invention relates to machine tools andmore particularly to self-contained machine tool units and controls.

Many worth-while advantages are gained by using hydraulic systems inmachine tools, particularly in selfcontained machine tool units, tocontrol and to power movements which operate machine tools in relationto workpieces. For this reason, much effort and ingenuity have gone intothe development of hydraulic control and power systems forself-contained machine tool units that are advanced and retracted inrelation to a workpiece by a hydraulic motor controlled by hydrauliccontrol structure incorporated into the hydraulic power system whichincludes the hydraulic motor.

However, the use of hydraulic control and power systems in thisenvironment has pointed up a number of problems which have not beenpreviously overcome on an altogether satisfactory basis. One suchproblem has been that of progressive heating of the hydraulic fluidduring use of the machines. Increasing temperature of the hydraulicfluid not only changes the viscosity of the fluid, upsetting operationof the hydraulic system, but it also changes the temperature of majorcomponents of the machine structure and in this manner affects thepositional relationships of fundamental machine parts. Some of theeffects and results of heating of the hydraulic fluid in machine toolsof this character include the following:

(1) Variation in the speed at which cutting tools are moved relative toa workpiece,

(2) Changes in the alignment of cutting tools relative to workpieces,

(3) The causation of bending actions between cutting tools andworkpieces resulting in scoring and breaking down of structural parts,and

(4) Numerous difficulties arising from an undue reduction of theviscosity of the fluid, such, for example, as fluid leakage with thenecessity for replenishing the hydraulic fluid supply, fire hazards, anda general contamination of the environment creating hazards to theoperating personnel and requiring increased care and maintenance of themachinery.

Prior efforts to minimize the effect of progressively increasinghydraulic fluid temperatures attending the operation of machinesequipped with such hydraulic systems have included the practice ofoperating a machine an hour or more before it is actually put into usein order to obtain some semblance of a stabilized temperature level.This expedient is not only expensive but is by no means wholly effectivesince the fluid temperature still changes after production is started.Other attempts have been made to provide means for compensating forchanges in the viscosity of the fluid incident to changes in the fluidtemperature. However, such approaches have lacked much to be desired inthat they only partially compensate for the efiects of temperaturevariation and do not eliminate temperature increases or many undesirableeffects of temperature increases.

As a matter of fact, the problems associated with the use of hydrauliccontrol and actuating systems in machine tools have been so serious asto lead some manufacturers to abandon the use of such systems, at thesacriice fice of their advantages, and go back to the use of mechanicaldrives.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved machine tool withan improved hydraulic control and actuating system which will operatewith great etficiency and effectiveness without significantly heatingthe hydraulic fluid used in the system, thereby eliminating thedifficulties and problems previously associated with progressivelyincreasing fluid temperatures in this environment.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved machine toolhaving an improved hydraulic control and actuating system which makesthe full power of the system continuously available for moving majorcomponents of the machine in relation to a workpiece even at a rapidtraverse speed while at the same time eliminating the generation of heatto any appreciable degree in the fluid under all operating conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a machine tool animproved hydraulic control and actuating system of the character setforth in the above object which is hydraulically alive and immediatelyresponsive under all operating conditions to any demands made on thesystem.

A further object is to provide in self-contained machine tool unit animproved hydraulic control and actuating system, which under alloperating conditions is immediately responsive to an electrical circuitcontrol (operable from either a local or remote station) to immediatelychange the operating condition or cycle of the unit.

A further object is to provide an improved self-contained machining unitincluding an improved hydraulic actuation system which affords a moreprecise control over the feeding movement of the unit relative to aworkpiece.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved control means forself-contained machine tool units which facilitates servicing of thecontrol structure by relatively unskilled personnel in a manner whicheffectively avoids down time of the machining apparatus for servicing ofthe control structure.

Still another object is to provide improved machine tool controlstructure which can be serviced without danger of exposure to highvoltages.

Still another object is to provide improved machine tool controlstructure which makes advantageous use of the capabilities of myimproved self-contained machining units recited above.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent fromthe following description, taken with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation of a selfcontainedmachine tool unit constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear end elevation of the unit taken with reference to line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the unit takenalong the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.1;

PEG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing components of the rapid traverse pump and thepilot pump;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 66of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the broken line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end view of the auxiliary and traversing pumpstaken with reference to the line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

- FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line99 of FIG. 4 and showing feed pump control structure;

FIG. 10 is a detail view on an enlarged scale showing coacting spiralgears used in the driving transmission;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the self-contained slide assembly taken withreference to line 1111 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary lower end view of the translatory head takenwith reference to the line 12-12 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of hydraulic actuating andcontrol circuits used to controllably translate the slide assembly 12along its support base;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the master control valveassembly for the unit taken along the line 14-44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the valve assembly taken along the line1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 1616 ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a partially sectioned front view of the valve assembly;

FIG. 18 is a partially sectioned and somewhat simplified perspectiveview of the valve assembly;

FIG. 19 is a simplified vertical sectional view of the valve assemblyshowing the positional relationship of major parts positioned forenergizing the actuator to effect feeding movement of a slide assembly;

FIG. 19A is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuitcorresponding to the valve positions in FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one hydraulic pilotcontrol for the main valve;

FIG. 20A is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit of FIG.20;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another hydraulicpilot control for the main valve;

FIG. 21A is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit of FIG.21;

FIG. 22 is a simplified sectional view of the valve assemblycorresponding to FIG. 19 but illustrating the position of the valves fortraversing the slide assembly rearwardly;

FIG. 22A is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit of FIG.22;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the main valve inneutral position;

FIG. 23A is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit of FIG.23;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 22 but illustrating the position ofvalve parts for rapidly traversing the slide assembly forward;

FIG. 24A is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit of FIG.24;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24 but illustrating the valve elementin neutral position;

FIG. 26 is a partially sectioned view taken from the line 2626 in FIG. 2and showing internal components of a manifold;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2727 ofFIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 2828 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a lay-out of a portion of the hydraulic system coacting withthe master valve assembly and illustrating specific components of thissystem in cross section;

FIG. 30 is a simplified cross sectional view illustrating therelationship of hydraulic passages associated with one end of the maincontrol element when the latter is in rapid traverse forward position;

FIG. 31 is a view similar to FIG. 30 but showing the main valve controlelement shifted to feed position;

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 30 but showing the valve element inrapid traverse return position;

FIG. 33 is a view similar to FIG. 30 but showing the valve element inneutral position;

FIG. 34 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 34--34 inFIG. 31;

FIG. 35 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the end of thevalve element illustrated in FIGS. 32-64;

FIG. 36 is a diagrammatic illustration of control circuits used tocontrol the individual machining units in conjunction with an automaticmachining installation;

FIG. 37 is a continuation of the circuit diagram of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a diagram of power circuits for a plurality of machiningunits and associated automatic machining structure;

FIG. 39 is a diagram of solenoid circuitsused in controlling machiningapparatus;

FIG. 40 is a continuation of the diagram of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a continuation of the diagram of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a fragmentary side view showing a modified form of gears usedto connect the power shaft with the drive shaft;

FIG. 43 is a fragmentary circumferential view showing the periphery ofone of the gears of FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line44-44 of FIG. 42;

FIG. 45 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the slightly curvingline 45-45 of FIG. 43 following the root of one of the gear teeth;

FIG. 46 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the diagonal line4646 of FIG. 43; and

FIG. 47 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4747 ofFIG. 43.

General Description of Self-Contained Machine Tool Unit Having referenceto the drawings in greater detail, the self-contained machine tool unit10, FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with my invention comprises aself-energized, self-controlled, and self-propelled machining head orslide assembly 12 supported for translation on a pair of longitudinalways 16 on an elongated base 14. The base 14 is designed forinstallation on a larger bed (not shown).

The forward end 18 of the translatable slide assembly 12 is designed tocarry a multiple spindle head or other machining attachment 20(indicated in phantom in FIG. 1) which is powered by the slide assemblyand translated toward and away from a workpiece (not shown) bycontrolled self-propelled movement of the slide assembly along the ways16.

The slide assembly 12 comprises a main frame or housing 22 slideablysupported on the ways 16 and surmounted on its rear end by an electricdriving motor 24. The motor is connected by guarded V-belts 26 with apulley 28, FIG. 3, on the rearwardly protruding end of a longitudinalpower shaft 30 extending centrally through the housing 22. Support forthe motor 24 is provided by a mount 32 which can be tipped about a hingeaxis 34, FIG. 2, by a threaded adjusting element 37, FIG. 1, to vary thetension in the belts 26.

The housing 22 is formed by a hollow casting, denoted by the samereference numeral, which is internally shaped and adapted as willpresently appear to define a reservoir 36 for lubricating oil and areservoir 38 for hydraulic fluid, FIG. 3, which are completely isolatedfrom each other so as to prevent the interchange of liquid from one tothe other.

The lubricating oil reservoir 36 comprises space within a relativelylarge transmission chamber 39 in the forward end of the housing 22 and ahollow longitudinal shaft housing 40 extending rearwardly from thetransmission Iczlizirntger to the rear end of the housing 22 as shown inThe rear end of the power shaft 36 is supported in the rear end of theshaft housing 40 by an anti-friction hearing 42. Annular seals 44adjacent bearing 42 prevent the escape of lubricating oil around theshaft 30.

The power shaft 30 extends through the shaft housing

1. A MACHINING UNIT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION A MOVABLE MACHININGASSEMBLY, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ASSEMBLY FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO AWORKPIECE, A HYDRAULIC ACTUATING CYLINDER FOR MOVING SAID ASSEMBLY, AHIGH VOLUME RAPID TRAVERSE PUMP, A POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT FEED PUMP,VALVE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID PUMPS TO OPERATE SAID CYLINDER ANDINCLUDING A MASTER VALVE HAVING A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS INCLUDING AFEEDING POSITION, SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A SLAVE VALVE HAVING APLURALITY OF POSITIONS INCLUDING A FEEDING POSITION, CONTROL MEANS FORSAID SLAVE VALVE HYDRAULICALLY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID MASTER VALVE TOLOCATE THE SALVE VALVE IN THE FEEDING POSITION THEREOF AS AN INCIDENT TOMOVEMENT OF THE MASTER VALVE INTO THE FEEDING POSITION THEREOF,HYDRAULIC CONTROL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SLAVE VALVE TO EFFECT UPONMOVEMENT OF THE LATTER INTO SAID FEEDING POSITION THEREOF CONNECTIONSBETWEEN THE INTAKE AND OUTLET OF SAID FEED PUMP AND HYDRAULICALLYOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HYDRAULIC MOTOR, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAIDFEED PUMP WITH SAID SLAVE VALVE TO UNLOAD THE BACK PRESSURE ON THE FEEDPUMP WHEN THE SLAVE VALVE IS IN A POSITION OTHER THAN SAID FEEDINGPOSITION THEREOF.